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Southend History
CHARLES STONE
Regimental Sergeant Major
Summary
Charles Stone was born in Wiltshire and went to sea after leaving school, then served 21 years with the 3rd Dragoon Guards in India, Egypt and South Africa. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and promoted to Warrant Officer 1st Class.
Place and date of birth
1859
Lived in Leigh-on-Sea
Connection to Southend
CHARLES STONE
Story
Charles Stone was born in Wiltshire and went to sea after leaving school, then served 21 years with the 3rd Dragoon Guards in India, Egypt and South Africa. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and promoted to Warrant Officer 1st Class.
The Stone family moved to Leigh-on-Sea in 1913 and lived at 12 Victoria road. On the outbreak of the Great War Sgt Major Stone volunteered for Company (Leigh) Essex Volunteers as a drill instructor and was appointed the Recruiting Officer for the Essex Volunteers later.
On 13th June 1917 Charles Stone was travelling onboard a Medical Train from Southend to Liverpool Street Station. His obituary in the Southend Standard suggests he was on 'engaged in secret duties' at the time.
13th July 1917 was the date of the first daytime raid by German Gotha Bombers on London. 18 Gothas hit London - 162 were killed and more than 400 injured. Tragically 46 of the dead were children in an infants’ school in Poplar. Charles Stone was one of the dead.
At his inquest his body was described at 'terribly mutilated' and the only way he could be identified was by this clothing.
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